Letters to the editor: Engineer fall guy in train tragedy

The monstrous tragedy at Lac-Megantic provides great sorrow for the present and, hopefully, lessons for the future.

All through the early coverage, day after day, the words filled the written pages and online screens. Are the fires out yet? How many dead?

Additional Photos

Lise Doyon and a friend, Jeannot Labrecque, place a picture of her son Kevin Roy, a victim of the derailed oil train explosion, at the Ste-Agnes church in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, on July 13. The people who decided that the train could be operated with a one-person crew played a major role in the disaster, which killed 50 people, a reader says. 2013 File Photo/The Associated Press

Routinely, without elaboration, the stories noted the engineer was the sole crew of this parade of black, round cylinders. When he left to sleep, no one was there. No brakeman. No backup engineer. Not even a security guard.

Finally, on July 14 (“For rail company, rebirth may yield to ruin“), almost as an afterthought in lengthy coverage, railroad litigation expert Richard Beall is quoted: “There used to be five-person crews. If you whittle that down to two people or one person, what’s going to happen?” We now know the answer to that question.

So when is “cost-cutting” criminal? It’s forever the “little guy” to blame — the engineer or the fire crew this time. When is cost-cutting “negligence”?

Maybe the so-called “liberal” media should stop and examine their point of view. No more free passes for the suits and ties in the corporate boardrooms.

Who went to jail for the Deepwater Horizon disaster? Who went to jail for the Big Branch Mine murders? And who wrote about that aspect of American jurisprudence?

Let’s see what happens in Canada. The media obligation is to report it all in detail.

Stephen Aucoin

Portland

Cutler’s economic platform must move into this century

As Eliot Cutler prepares to enter the gubernatorial race, Mainers should examine his proposals on the economy. Cutler would have Maine build on its natural resources, specifically tourism, lobstering and paper production.

But reliance on natural resources is the mark of a colonial economy, which historically has always been trumped by an industrial economy, and nowadays is far inferior to a “knowledge” economy. Cutler’s experience in China should have told him that.

Take lobstering. The current abundance of lobster (unexplained) can vanish overnight. Paper production is already on the decline, with several mills recently closed. Tourism is vital for Maine’s economy but shows no signs of dramatic increase.

What should be done? Maine needs to move into a modern-day knowledge economy. It already has a foothold in biological research in Jackson and Bigelow labs. We should build on this.

Maine should attempt to attract high-tech jobs. This means providing support at the university level, including advanced research initiatives, industry collaborations and encouragement of startups.

High school graduates should be encouraged to enter colleges and major in technical areas. This requires strengthening the public school system (which Cutler does advocate).

Also, as anyone visiting Silicon Valley can see, much of the energy in high-tech comes from new immigrants. They should be made to feel welcome in Maine and enticed by Maine’s natural beauty and quality of life.

Maine needs to aspire to a lead role in the 21st-century economy, not a subservient one supplying natural resources to dynamic but resource-poor nations in Asia.

Michael Werner

Camden

Ruling in war crimes case should cause judge’s ouster

I am deeply disturbed and angry over the disclosure in David Rohde’s column July 14 (“A ruling redefines war crimes“) that as president of the United Nations war crimes tribunal, Judge Theodor Meron, 83, overturned the just conviction of three senior military, Croatian and Serbian, on the charge of aiding and abetting war crimes, of which evidence proved them guilty.

For the goal of justice to be achieved, this unreasonable opinion of Mr. Meron’s cannot be allowed to stand.

To whom do we appeal for what is right in this very serious matter? Into whose ears do we citizens of every country scream, demanding that Mr. Meron be removed from the war crimes tribunal and his opinion in this matter rescinded?

And regarding the suspicion that the U.S. and Israel pressured judges to reverse rules that could limit counterterrorism of both countries, we sometimes too-trusting citizens of a supposedly democratic country need an in-depth investigation by “Frontline,” which I trust to get to the crux of the matter.

A deluge of emails — or letters — to the members of the war crimes tribunal seems appropriate.

Loretta MacKinnon

Yarmouth

Anthem oversteps bounds by denying ALS coverage

I am a retired physician and specialist in critical care medicine and would like to commend Bill Nemitz for his column regarding Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield and John and Gail Kennett (“ALS sufferer, husband, in health care limbo,” July 14).

First, let me extend my sympathy and best wishes to the Kennetts, who are both going through a tragic ordeal with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Mrs. Kennett’s physicians and her medical staff at Maine Medical Center have deemed it to be in her best interest to remain in the critical care unit at MMC, and she is insured by Anthem.

The executives sitting in their ivory tower at Anthem are in no position to practice medicine. The practice of insurance companies making medical decisions is anathema, and I condemn it in the strongest terms possible.

If Anthem chooses to deny the Kennetts’ claim, it should return all past premiums paid by them.

James M. Klick, M.D., FCCM

Freeport

Revised ‘full-time’ definition will greatly affect employees

Before Sen. Susan Collins changes the U.S. health care bill to say full-time is someone who works 30 hours per week to someone who works 40, she must do a study of workers’ hours. Which businesses only allow their employees to work 30 hours (or less) a week so they can forgo giving them health, sick and vacation benefits?

American workers deserve a piece of the Big Business pie. Union busting and other fancy Republican-led antics push workers further away from making a decent living. Are they saying the American workers don’t deserve a fair share in their employers’ profits?

Fairness is the issue here. Sen. Collins would do well to find out how workers are going to be affected by her changes, rather than just the businesses they work for. I understand how and why “30 to 40 hours a week” came to be. American workers deserve better.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.